Farmland Rights Confirmation and Farmer's Preference of Farmland Transfer Contract: An Empirical Analysis of the Survey Data of Five Counties in Three Provinces

Based on the survey data from five counties of three provinces in China, through the theoretical framework of "Farmland rights confirmation-Transaction price-Contract preference of Farmland transfer", this paper empirically analyzes the influence of the Farmland rights confirmation on the contract preference and its mechanism. It is found that: The Farmland rights confirmation increased the probability of farmers selecting written contracts when they transferred to farmland, which can be achieved through the transaction price mechanism and change in the transaction price; the more agricultural inputs into the village, the higher the frequency of trading, and households would prefer the oral contract; upon the willingness to transfer from relatives and farmers with shorter transition period, farmers are more likely to choose oral contracts; the average family level of education, the area of land contract and the proportion of agricultural income also have a significant impact on the contract preferences. Therefore, farmers' preferences for transfer contract are characterized with dual nature of differential pattern and interest orientation. In the future, it is imperative to firmly promote the farmland rights confirmation, establish and improve the system of farmland property protection so as to ensure the rights and interests of peasant households.